When Behren Morton dealt with injuries in 2025, it looked like, at times, Will Hammond may be the Red Raiders' future quarterback. Hammond came off the bench to replace Morton against Utah to help secure victory before starting later in the year against Arizona State, where he showed promise in a losing effort. His second start against Oklahoma State was even more promising, but he tore his ACL, ending his season.
The injury changed Will Hammond from the future in Lubbock to a forgotten man, especially when Morton and the Red Raiders' offense was shut down in the College Football Playoff. Texas Tech went out and brought in the top quarterback in the Transfer Portal, Brendan Sorsby, with the hopes of being a Championship contender.
Will Hammond is wildly important amid Brendan Sorsby's investigation
On Monday, shocking news came out of Lubbock as Brendan Sorsby was seeking treatment for a gambling addiction. When the news followed that Sorsby was being investigated by the NCAA for gambling activity, including the fact that he bet on Indiana games while with the Hoosiers, the dynamic changed.
Breaking: Texas Tech transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby is checking into a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction, sources told @PeteThamel.
— ESPN (@espn) April 27, 2026
He’s under NCAA investigation in the wake of the discovery of Sorsby making thousands of bets via a gambling app. pic.twitter.com/ecRJZPHF0t
The fact that Sorsby bet on his own games puts his future in jeopardy, as the NCAA previously ruled Iowa State basketball's Hunter Dekkers permanently ineligible after it was found that he bet on his team's games when he wasn't playing.
Texas Tech could suddenly lose its starting quarterback either for the entire season or for a portion of the season. Regardless of the length, if there is a punishment, Texas Tech will need a backup plan which would hopefully be Will Hammond.
On Monday, On3's Pete Nakos reported that Hammond has returned to throwing, and that there's a chance he could be healthy by Week 1.
NEW: Texas Tech backup QB Will Hammond has returned to throwing in the last 10 days, @PeteNakos reports. There is optimism that he should be healthy by Week 1 against Abilene Christian.
— On3 (@On3) April 27, 2026
Hammond missed the entire spring recovering from a torn ACL.https://t.co/YJ0Vh6Bbdk https://t.co/nLYokP11l7 pic.twitter.com/6l0reFqZXs
If Will Hammond can't return in time, the backup plans are there, but the Red Raiders wouldn't feel great about them. Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis has experience across 3 seasons, but he'll be taking a major step up in competition. Redshirt Lloyd Jones III also has some experience, but it's limited.
Texas Tech fans will now wait to see where the NCAA investigation into Sorsby leads, and they'll follow Hammond's recovery closely as it'll determine their season.
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